New York Yankees 6 — Los Angeles Angels 5
Every run the Yankees scored today was valuable in today’s 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels. This win ends a five-game losing streak.
In four of the last five games, the Yankees would only manage to score two runs in each game. Against the Angels’ ace Jered Weaver, the Yankees would break out for more than that. Chris Stewart started the third inning with a walk and Brett Gardner would hit a single that moved Stewart to third base. Brett Gardner would steal second base to give the Yankees a prime opportunity to score as there were no outs and two in scoring position. Ichiro Suzuki would strikeout and Robinson Cano would fly out to shallow left field, not deep enough to score a run. With two outs, things seemed very bleak with Travis Hafner coming to the plate. Entering today’s game, Hafner was in a 0-for-23 slide but he would take a big turn with a big blast. On a 1-2 slider, Hafner would take Weaver deep to center field for a three-run home run.
Still with two outs, Vernon Wells followed the home run with a single and Lyle Overbay would bring him home on a double to center field. Jayson Nix would follow up with a single to bring Overbay home as well. Nix would get picked off of second base to end the inning but after all was said and done, the Yankees had a five-run lead in the third inning. In the eighth inning, Robinson Cano would lead off with a double and advance to third on a ground out. Vernon Wells would hit a sacrifice fly to score a valuable sixth run of the game.
To end the skid, the Yankees turned to CC Sabathia. The left-handed ace cruised through eight innings, including getting nine straight out from the second inning to the fourth. With CC’s ease through eight innings, a complete game shutout would seem a given.
A double and a walk would bring CC’s pitch count to 107 and would bring manager Joe Girardi out to bring in the bullpen. Visibly upset with himself, CC would exit the game and David Robertson would take over.
The first batter, Mark Trumbo, would hit a laser off of David Robertson that would go into right field and score the Angels’ first run of the game. Robertson would stay in the game and strikeout Howie Kendrick for the first out of the inning. Pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck would walk to load the bases and create a save opportunity.
With the opportunity, Mariano Rivera would emerge from the bullpen for the save. Rivera would get the first out on a ground out that brought in the second run of the inning. A soft single that falls in front of Ichiro Suzuki would bring home two runs, making it a 6-4 game. Pinch-hitter Brad Hawpe would hit a soft single in front of Vernon Wells to put runners on the corners. Peter Bourjos would hit a soft single as well that fell in front of Vernon Wells too for another run. Mike Trout would load the bases on a walk. In a clash between two of the best at what they do, Mariano Rivera would face Albert Pujols with the bases loaded and a one-run lead.
The first pitch was a called strike one. The second pitch a fouled off strike two. The third pitch would be a high-and-inside fastball that tied up Pujols with a weak swing to strikeout and end this nail-biter.
For CC Sabathia, he went eight innings and the two runners he left on the bases would score. He allowed five hits while walking three and striking out six. The three singles that Mariano Rivera gave up were typical, broken bat singles that were weakly falling between the infield and outfield. A win is a win, no matter how messy and shaky it gets.
Win – CC Sabathia (7-5)
Loss – Jered Weaver (1-3)
Save – Mariano Rivera (24)
Notables
Yankees
*Travis Hafner – 1 for 3, R, BB, 3-Run Home Run (11) in the 3rd, 3 RBI (32)
*Jayson Nix – 3 for 4, 2B, RBI (19)
Angels
*Alberto Callaspo – 1 for 4, R, 2 RBI (22)
*Peter Bourjos – 2 for 5, RBI (9)
Current Yankees Record: 38-31
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